Dasher's Magical Gift
News from the North Pole: Dasher 2023 Update
For 7 years, CNY Arts and Dance Centre North have proudly partnered to produce and perform Dasher’s Magical Gift. It has always been a special joy to introduce children and students to the magic and pageantry of “live” theater – especially during the holidays!
Unfortunately, due to several important factors, we have made the difficult decision to not bring Dasher’s Magical Gift to the stage this season. Overall, the increased costs to produce Dasher post-Covid have exceeded the annual production budget allotted.
We hope that this year will only be a temporary hiatus for Dasher, in fact, we’re already exploring new ways to support and bring Dasher back to the stage for the future. In the meantime, we’re pleased to announce that a virtual recording of Dasher's Magical Gift will be made available for viewing this holiday season. This one-hour, narrated ballet introduces young children to dance, live theater, and classical music through a heart-warming holiday story.
 |
In partnership with WCNY, Dasher will also be broadcast during the following dates and times:
- December 7 3:00pm (WCNY)
- December 17 5:30pm (WORLD)
- December 20 5:00pm (WCNY)
- December 24 5:00pm (WORLD)
Dasher's Magical Gift is an ALL-LOCAL original holiday show commissioned by CNY Arts.
It is performed by students from Dance Centre North, directed and choreographed by Larry Crabtree, written by Matt Chiorini, and costumed by Lindsey Quay Voorhees and Catherine Kingsley
Dasher's Story
It's a few days before the big day. Everyone in Santa's workshop is buzzing with excitement about the biggest Christmas ever! Presents are being made, Santa is checking his list, and the reindeer are getting ready for the big flight. Plus, with more kids on the Nice List than ever before, Santa has announced that he is going to choose an extra reindeer to help pull the sleigh. But the biggest excitement of all is the arrival of Dasher, leader of Santa’s sleigh team and fastest of them all! Everyone is excited to see him and no one more so than his number one reindeer fan, Peppermint (her friends call her Pepper), who is hoping to get his autograph.
Unfortunately, Dasher has a secret problem. It seems that amidst all of the glamour of being a holiday celebrity, Dasher has lost his ability to fly! As Christmas approaches and everyone is counting on him to lead the way, it seems that he doesn't have enough Christmas spirit to guide the sleigh. It looks like Christmas may be canceled, but with the help of Pepper and a couple of very lost penguins, Dasher will remember what the holiday season is all about and the Spirit of Christmas will prevail.